TAPIT’s Grade 2 placed Fort Bragg added a stakes victory to his record on Saturday when he won the Dwyer Stakes (G3).
Making his first start back since a second in the Pat Day Mile (G2), Fort Bragg broke well before settling into third a few paths off the rail as Saudi Crown set the pace. Not much changed down the backstretch with Fort Bragg starting his move as they approached the far turn.
Sticking to that one’s hip from that point on, Fort Bragg got serious in the stretch and started making his move. The pair dueled all the way to the line with Fort Bragg coming out ahead by a nose over Saudi Crown, who is out of a TAPIT daughter.
It's a battle to the wire in the Grade 3 Dwyer! FORT BRAGG gets it done under @ljlmvel! #BelmontPark pic.twitter.com/OB67hJFY4I
— NYRA (🌳) (@TheNYRA) July 1, 2023
“He’s just figuring it out. His last race was huge at Churchill,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He just got away bad that day or he probably would have won the race. I think he’s getting it all together. They went fast today. He went against a really nice horse and they just laid it down, but class always prevails. It was a good race with two good horses.
The colt has now won two of eight starts with six on-the-board finishes for the bay, including a pair of Grade 2 placings.
Sold for $700,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton October Sale, Fort Bragg was bred by co-owner SF Bloodstock along with Henry Field. SF is joined by Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan in his ownership.
This is the first foal out of the stakes winning March X Press, a three-quarter sister to stakes winner Harlan’s Honor who herself has produced multiple stakes placed Song River. This colt’s extended family also includes Grade 1 winner Big World.
TAPIT had a big Saturday with Pauline’s Pearl also adding another stakes win to her record at Ellis Park and Edified earning Thoroughbred Daily News ‘Rising Star’ honors at the same track.